Month: February 2022

The Australian Parliament’s Agriculture and Water Resources Committee has tabled the report of its inquiry into the Australian aquaculture sector: Supporting a strong future for Australian aquaculture.

The report found that Australian aquaculture is a growing industry with a strong positive outlook. Australia’s aquaculture already has a reputation for producing premium product and further improvements will strengthen our market position. The report noted that unlocking the full potential of the industry will require the removal of some barriers to growth.

Committee Chair Mr Rick Wilson MP said, ‘There are many exciting opportunities for the growth of Australian aquaculture. The growth of the industry will help meet domestic demand for seafood, boost exports and provide thousands of additional jobs, especially in regional areas.’

‘Aquaculture, like all industries, has its share of challenges and potential barriers to growth. The Committee has made a number of recommendations with the aim of overcoming these barriers,’ Mr Wilson added.

Mr Wilson notes the confusion caused by current rules around the country of origin labelling of seafood. ‘Consumers are unable to know whether they are buying imported or Australian fish at their local fish and chip shop.’

‘Consumers have the right to know where the seafood they buy originates from. It is nonsensical that there are no country of origin labelling rules for the food service industry, and this must be addressed’.

For further information, please visit the inquiry website.

The Greens have welcomed the parliament’s acknowledgement of the abuse and harassment experienced by staff in parliamentary workplaces, but have warned that words alone will not satisfy Australian women.

The Greens continue to urge the government to implement all 28 recommendations of the Set the Standard report, in addition to the remaining Respect@Work recommendations, particularly fully funding working women’s centres and the centrepiece reform of legislating a positive duty on employers.

Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:

“The patience of Australian women has been sorely tested by this government.

“It’s been nearly 12 months since Brittany Higgins bravely came forward – and much longer still since we first learned of the terrible experiences of Rachelle Miller, Chelsey Potter and many others.

“Today’s acknowledgement to survivors of abuse, harassment and bullying is a worthy first step, but it does nothing to make parliamentary workplaces safer now and into the future. I also note that today’s statement did not acknowledge that for First Nations people, people of colour and people with disability, harassment and disrespect can be even worse.

“The government must now implement all 28 Set the Standard recommendations, and the Greens will be pushing them to get on with the job.

“The government must also finish implementing Respect@Work. It’s been more than two years since Kate Jenkins submitted her landmark report to the government and they still haven’t committed to its central reform, a positive duty on employers to ensure a safe workplace, or provided guaranteed funding to working women’s centres.

“The PM has a terrible track record on women’s safety and respect. He kept an alleged rapist in his Cabinet and refused to even initiate an inquiry, and gave little more than a slap on the wrist to a backbencher accused of harassing and stalking women in his electorate.

“And we have learned overnight that many survivors of abuse and harassment in parliament, including Brittany Higgins, weren’t even invited to attend today’s acknowledgement.

“Everyone deserves to be free from harassment, bullying and sexual assault, no matter who they are or where work. The government needs to stop running from its responsibilities and make it happen.”

West Australian children with life-limiting health conditions are set to get new help and hope with the construction of the state’s first and only dedicated respite and hospice care facility for children.

The WA Children’s Hospice will be jointly funded by the Federal Government, the WA State Government and the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, with the Morrison Government committing $7.5 million towards the project.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said hospitals could often be a stressful environment for children.

“Children’s hospices help to reduce the stress of a very difficult time by offering a more home-like atmosphere and allow families to stay together,” Minister Hunt said.

“Children’s hospices can also offer therapies and activities not easily accessible in hospitals and mainstream hospices, such as respite care, outdoor play, child appropriate nutrition and meals, multi-sensory play and onsite hydrotherapy.”

The WA Government, in partnership with the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) and the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, will build WA’s first children’s hospice.

The WA Government has transferred the land at Swanbourne to the Child and Adolescent Health Service, and has provided $3.2 million for project planning and design.

The Foundation will provide funding for the construction, fitout and ongoing non-operational costs of the hospice, while CAHS will be responsible for governance, management and ongoing operational clinical and support services funding.

Dr Rosanna Capolingua, CAHS Board Chair, said the service welcomed the investment from the Morrison Government towards the building of the first children’s hospice in the state.

“This facility is such an important and much-needed service for children living with a life-limiting illness, and their families,” Dr Capolingua said.

“The CAHS Board would also like to acknowledge the work the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation has done in connecting with generous donors in our community enabling this hospice to be built on land provided by the WA Government.

“Having a dedicated facility in close proximity to WA’s tertiary children’s hospital, with top-class medical equipment and expert staff, in a beautiful setting overlooking the Indian Ocean, will provide some of our most vulnerable children and their families with much-needed respite and support.”

The Hon. Ian Campbell, Chairman, Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, said: “On behalf of the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, I want to thank the Australian Government for this incredibly generous donation that recognises the need for a hospice for young palliative care patients and their families.

“This funding, on this one exciting day, moves the WA Children’s Hospice from dream to reality, providing the biggest single financial contribution alongside our other donors, large and small. We can now look forward with confidence to start building in Swanbourne in a few short months’ time,” Mr Campbell said.

The WA Children’s Hospice will provide palliative out-of-home respite care and support for children and families.

Aged care providers in regional and remote parts of Australia will be able to improve services and create safer environments under the latest investment from the Morrison Government.

The $35.3 million multi-purpose services (MPS) program will see 110 aged care sites benefit from minor capital grant projects averaging $321,000 each.

Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck said the work would range from simple improvements such as gardens and pathways to major building renovations.

“The aim is to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of residents, including for those living with dementia,” Minister Colbeck said. 

 “These services allow people to stay in their own communities as they get older, close to their family and community ties.

Providers of MPS sites will also soon have the opportunity to expand their services, with 100 new residential care places on offer through a competitive allocation round.

“The grant funding and the MPS places round join the Government’s $18.3 billion aged care reform package as part of the Government’s comprehensive response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety,” Minister Colbeck said.

“The Royal Commission recommended the MPS program should be maintained and extended, and $35.3 million in grant funding and a further 100 places in 2022 will do just that.”

The maximum funding available for each individual MPS site is $600,000, with providers also required to contribute at least 20 per cent of the total project costs. Grant funding will be allocated across the 2021–22 and 2022–23 financial years.

The MPS grants build on the single largest investment in residential aged care infrastructure in Australia’s history, which in July 2021 saw $150 million in capital grants allocated to residential care services, predominantly in regional and remote Australia.

Outcomes of the MPS grants, including details of the successful providers, can be found here.

To mark Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the Morrison Government will provide an additional $2 million to Ovarian Cancer Australia for its work supporting women with ovarian cancer and their families.

Last year, it is estimated that approximately 1,700 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Tragically, 1,000 died from the disease. While ovarian cancer is most commonly diagnosed in women over the age of 50, it can occur at any age.

This additional funding will ensure Ovarian Cancer Australia can continue providing vital psychosocial telehealth support services through its Teal Support Program until 2023–24.

The Teal Support Program employs specialist nurses who use telehealth to provide psychosocial care and support to people with ovarian cancer, from diagnosis through to post-treatment.

Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer face daunting challenges. It has a low 5-year survival rate (47%) with a recurrence rate of up to 70%. As a result, around 40% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer experience clinical levels of anxiety or depression.

While caring for patients and their families is important, research remains our best hope of defeating ovarian cancer and developing more effective treatments.

Since 2012, the Government has provided $62.5 million through the National Health and Medical Research Council for ovarian cancer research. The Medical Research Future Fund has committed almost $21 million to ovarian cancer research projects since 2015.

The Government also supports women with ovarian cancer and their families by listing life‑saving and life-changing medications on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. In
2020–21, our expenditure on PBS medicines to treat ovarian cancer was over $30 million.

In November 2020 Lynparza (olaparib) was extended to include more patients with ovarian cancer, making it accessible to around 300 patients per year who might otherwise pay more than $140,500 per course of treatment.

Today, at the annual Teal Ribbon Breakfast, the Government reaffirms its commitment to supporting Australian women with ovarian cancer to get the treatment, information and support they need.

The Morrison Government has awarded a job-creating $2.13 million contract to a Hawkesbury-based engineering consultancy to continue its development of a unique lightweight armour for the C-130J Hercules airlifter aircraft.

The contract with Aerospace & Mechanical Consulting Engineers, in partnership with fellow NSW company Armor Composite Engineering, will use a cutting-edge amour solution to provide the in-service aircraft with stronger protection.

The innovation could reduce aircraft fatigue and the risk of injury to Australian Defence Force personnel.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the Government’s investment had created jobs at both companies and was further evidence of the Government’s determination to back defence industry to supply the ADF with the very best capability.

“This contract will strengthen ADF capabilities and provide an opportunity to maximise Australian industry participation,” Minister Price said.

“By investing in the innovative ideas of Australian small and medium businesses, we are delivering more opportunities for those businesses to participate in Defence projects and directly contribute to ADF capability.

“The Morrison Government is committed to supporting innovative small businesses within the Australian defence industry to develop technologies that present opportunities for Defence and for international export markets.”

Liberal Senator for Western Sydney, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, said the important contract was a vote of confidence in local capabilities.

“The awarding of this contract shows that Hawkesbury businesses are more than capable of competing in this highly specialised field,” Senator Payne said.

The Director of Aerospace & Mechanical Consulting Engineers, John Eldridge, said the contract was an opportunity for the small business to export the armour solution to Australia’s allies and grow its workforce.

“To support this contract, Aerospace & Mechanical Consulting Engineers has employed an additional four engineering staff and Armor Composite Engineering has increased its manufacturing staff by two, with a further two staff to be employed in the next 12 months,” Mr Eldridge said.

Industry and research organisations can submit innovation proposals through the Defence Innovation Portal at: www.innovationhub.defence.gov.au .